The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-04-29


ever, all was excitement
1t was the chance of q lifetime. an,
Hammerschmidt rose to it. The sal
was nothing; the prestige was all
"K-vick! K-vick! K-vick!" the oil,
man cried in his excitement as he drov
the representatives of four generation
into the back room. All depended nov
on Esther. She could alone take tn
trick that Katzenyammcr even hat
failed in.
This door, too, was unattended
Rochester, with many misgivings, pass
cd i'm.
As he stared about the half-lighte,
place his eyes fell on those of girl o
seventeen. who sat under row o
spring bottom trousers hanging OH thu
wall. They were beautiful eyes that me-
his view-large. lustrous. loving and SAT
the historic eyes of the lovely Jewes
of romance.
81 wish to price an overcoat," sale
Rochester gently.
MY father is not here. and I don,
know tho goods" said Esther with 8
troubled glance.
"Oh. l guess you can find me some
thing" said he, relieved. 'Tm moi
particular"
as it for summer" she asked.
"Yes; such as they wear at Manhat-
tan Beach. Do you ever go to Man
haitian Beach in the summer time?'
asked Rochester.
81 never have been, but I should like
to Co." said Esther. She smiled. Her
teeth were even and white. She was
undeniably pretty. She walked well.
Heredity had been kind to her. Twenty
generations of peddlcr's packs had
curved her pretty back not in the least.
He watched her, for Rochester is arts
tic, as she fumbled among some over
coats.
'Will you try this on?" she asked
gently. holding it out to him.
1t was the critical moment. Ham,
was peeking through a
crack in the door and giving momentary
bulletins to his wife. Every knothole
in the ceiling had an eye to it, and
there were several knOt-hOlcs. Fun
kenstein, Motzenhauser and Katzen-
yammer were i'll at ease, nOtwiti.stand-
ing they had not all done badly. The
street was in painful state of sus-
pense, and the quintet were betting
wine in trying state of doubt.
If you will put it on for me-" said
tenderly.
Hammerschmidt's long breath of re-
lief was audible in the shop. though
foolish Rochester needed it not. The
agony was over. Esther would never
let him get that coat off again. If she
did he would disinherit her.
Dimplcd hands raised the ovcrcoat to
his shoulders; warm fingers pressed it
forward about his neck, and as they
lid so touched his cheek. Esther's
purchases in the perfumcry line were
not imported, but as she buttoned the
top button it seemed as if it was "Bri-
SIS de AS Pampas'' in the dark heavy
folds of her hair.
''Will it doe" she asked, timidly. 81
never tried it before"
"Of course" said Rochester. gal.
lantly. He stopped; look of conster.
nation crept over his face, and he grit
ted his teeth.
"Of course" he repeated. smother
ing the thought and smiling on the
beautiful girl. "How much is it?'
Esther, with some difficulty. found
the card on the starboard coat tail, and
said: Fifteen dollars" Esther was
not slow herself. He gave her ten
and five, and she thanked him grace
fully.
"You say you'd like to SO down to
Manhattan Beach this
esther. go ofer to Mott sthreet und
see vat time der teakcttlc will be done
already, don't be vatin' round here
ven dcre's no tea. Esther. be kvick
about it, yelled Hammerschmidt all
in Il breath, as he burst into the front
shop.
She went like the startled fawn.
did not look like an
to dinner, but had the inhos-
pitable and biased expression of a
meat axe. He looked as if he might
have a great deal to say; but Rochester
did not care for conversation. lie
bowed and went out hurriedly.
As he struck the sunlight with the
overcoat on yell sounded down the
street. Five men roared and slapped
their thighs and laughed like lunatics.
The street looked at them in amazc-
mcnt. As Rochester went toward them
they laughed harder and harder.
He had on an old melton overcoat.
pale green under the collar. faded gray
in various shades in the skirts. 1t was
frayed at the cuffs, worn out and sewed
up at the buttonholes. and had small
patch or one of the sleeves.
"You needn't laugh" he said with
anger. lin fact won't
have it." he added holly. 1.-Two lost
The bet and that's enough said"
They stopped laughing. but looked
rery queer. Now and then they in
spected him furtively out of the cor
ners of their eyes as he took the lead,
But there was imminent
hanger of an explosion all the way up.
H. j. w. d.. tn ". y. Times.
"A New York man is said to beat work
On a continuance with which he hopes
to make all housekecpers forever indie
pendent Of gas and coal companies. 1t